Chemistry

Chemistry

Contact
Teri Miller
Liberal Arts Building, Room 308
Direct: (313) 927-1333
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Programs Offered
Bachelor of Arts
Chemistry Major (B.A.)
Chemistry Minor

Faculty
Steven Scribner, Ph.D.
Sally Welch, Ph.D.
Jeanne Andreoli, Ph.D.

Portential Careers
Clinical or Analytical Chemist • Dentist • Educator • Engineer • Environmental Chemist • Material Scientist • Medicinal/Pharmaceutical Chemist • Physician • Research Scientist

 

Chemistry Overview

Are you curious? Do you like to explore problems? Do scientific questions fascinate you? Do you enjoy working in a laboratory? Do you want to better understand matter, molecules, atoms, and how they react? If so, you will be interested in a chemistry major or minor.

The Chemistry Department has three major goals: (1) to provide a strong chemistry major within a liberal arts framework for those entering the profession of chemistry or preparing for graduate work; (2) to provide cognate backgrounds in chemistry for biology majors, pre-medical and dental students, medical technologists, dietitians, science educators and others who may require chemistry; (3) to provide non-science majors with sufficient background to understand advances in technology, environmental implications of new laws, drug problems and health advances.

Specific Information
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in chemistry is designed for both students who want a career as a professional chemist and for occupations that require a moderate training in chemistry combined with training in one or more other areas. For example, students who desire chemistry as a major in programs of pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-veterinary, pre-law, or teaching chemistry in high school. Other examples are students planning prospective careers in sales or technical service, as technical editor, writers, or secretaries, or as technical librarians, chemical patent lawyers, or forensic scientists.

The Chemistry minor provides you with the skills and theory needed for an entry-level position as a chemical technician. It will prepare you to teach at the secondary level.

Career information
As a chemistry student, you will have a wide variety of excellent career opportunities available to you: from teaching at the middle or secondary levels to chemical industry to government work. Chemistry majors also often pursue advanced work in graduate schools. A chemistry background is also valuable to you if you major in the health science (nutrition, clinical chemistry industrial hygiene) and as you prepare for professional training in medicine, pharmacy and dentistry.

Special Elements of the Program

Academic Performance
Only required courses with a grade no lower than a C can be applied to fulfill the chemistry major or minor degree.

Standardized National Assessment Exam
All students majoring in Chemistry must participate in a National Assessment Instrument (i.e., MTTC, GRE, MCAT, ACS) prior to graduation (See F below).

Sigma Zeta National Honor Society
Sigma Zeta is a national science and mathematics honor society. It was founded at Shurtleff College, in Alton, Illinois in 1926. Today, more than forty local chapters are active in colleges and universities across the United States. The society encourages and fosters achievement of greater knowledge in the fields of science and mathematics. Outstanding scholastic achievement in the fields is recognized through membership in this society.

Program Offering
The B.A. in Chemistry program is primarily a day program, some courses are offered in the evening on a rotating schedule.

 

 

Course Descriptions

CHM 130 Chemical Science 4 hours
Prerequisites: MTH 099; ENG 107; LS 105; Term: Fall; Fee: yes. General Education option

A descriptive and mathematical look at chemistry for the non-scientist. Conceptual development and problem solving are emphasized. Introduction to concepts of chemistry, language and theories for general and organic chemistry. Study of atomic theory, acid-base theories, mole concept and biological molecules. Lab included.

CHM 140 General Chemistry 1: Atoms and molecules 4 hours
Co-rerequisites: MTH 105; Term: Fall; Fee: yes

Introduction to the basic principles of chemistry in a context of chemical analysis. Includes the nature of matter, periodic table, elements, ionic and covalent compounds, stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure, ideal gases, and acid-base chemistry. Lab required.

CHM 230 Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry 4 hours
Prerequisites: CHM 130; Term: Winter; Fee: yes

Brief survey of organic and biological chemistry, emphasizing applications to human physiology. CHM 230 may not be used for major or minor credit in chemistry, biology, or forensic science.

CHM 241   General Chemistry 2: Equilibrium 4 hours
Prerequisites: CHM 140; Term: Winter; Fee: yes

Chemical thermodynamics; kinetics; equilibria; electrochemistry, redox reactions; nuclear chemistry; selected properties of the elements. Lab required.

CHM 312 Junior Seminar 2 hours
Corequisites: Junior standing in the major, ENG 312; Term Winter; Fee: yes; Cross-listed with BIO/CHM/ENV/FSC/HSC/ISC 312.

Junior Seminar has been designed to help science majors improve their writing AS SCIENTISTS. Competence in writing in science requires critical evaluation of one’s work. In order to encourage the development of critical thinking, students critique published work as well as write essays, reviews, and research reports. The heart of the course lies in the weekly interaction between the instructor and students through discussion both in class sections and one-on-one. A weekly lecture provides structure and continuity and allows consideration of other topics such as interviewing and resume writing, poster presentations, ethics in science, and the nature of science and creativity. This is the program’s writing intensive course.

CHM 325 Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Nomenclature 4 hours
Prerequisites: CHM 241; Term: Fall; Fee: yes

This course begins the systematic study of the chemistry of carbon compounds—nomenclature, stereochemistry, mechanisms, predictions and trends, and introduction to synthesis. Laboratory included.

CHM 326 Organic Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms 4 hours
Prerequisites: CHM 325; Term: Winter; Fee: yes

Topics include functional group transformations, multistep synthesis, mechanisms, nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic substitution, and carbonyl chemistry. Laboratory included.

CHM 341Physical Chemistry 4 hours
Prerequisites: CHM 241; MTH 252; Term: Fall; Fee: yes. Offered alternate years

Presentation of physical chemistry topics: thermodynamics, solution equilibria, chemical kinetics, transport processes, and structure with biological applications.

CHM 350 Environmental Chemistry 3 hours
Prerequisites: CHM 241, 325; Term: Fall. Offered alternate years

Introduces students to environmental chemistry, the branch of chemistry dealing with the origins, transport, reactions, effects and fates of chemical species in the water, air, soil and living environments.

CHM 360 Biochemistry 4 hours
Prerequisites: BIO 150; Co-requisite: CHM 325, Term: Fall; Fee: yes. Offered alternate years; Cross-listed with BIO 360.

Biochemistry 360 is an advanced-level course for students majoring in chemistry, biology or dietetics. This course provides an overview of fundamental concepts in biochemistry which focuses upon the major macromolecules and chemical properties of living systems. Topics include the structure, function and metabolism of amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids; the physical properties of water, pH, and buffers; enzyme kinetics and regulation. The principles of bioenergetics and the integration of metabolic control will be developed. Laboratory Included.

CHM 388 Cooperative Field Experience 1-4 hours
Prerequisites: Departmental approval

Supervised work experience in chemistry, planned in consultation with advisor, co-op supervisor, and employer. Recording, reporting and evaluation will be required.

CHM 390 Laboratory Analysis 3 hours
Prerequisites: CHM 241; Term Winter. Offered alternate years

Theory and practical application of instruments as applied to physiochemical and analytical methods. Laboratory included.

CHM 401 Inorganic Chemistry 3 hours
Prerequisites: CHM 241, 325; Term: Winter. Offered alternate years

Study of the chemistry of the metals and non-metals emphasizing periodic behavior, atomic and molecular structure, ionic and covalent bonding, coordination compounds, oxidation and reduction reactions, acid-base chemistry, organometallic compounds, transition metal complexes and reaction kinetics.

CHM 410  Special Topics in Chemistry 3 hours
Prerequisites: CHM 241, 326; Term: TBA. Offered alternate years.

Advanced study of modern synthetic reactions, including mechanisms and theoretical perspectives. Includes use of modern spectroscopic methods.

CHM 491 Independent Study 1-4 hours

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor; chemistry major or minor; junior status; Term: TBA

Opportunity to earn credit for the independent study of a course not listed in the catalog as a specific offering. By arrangement.

CHM 496A Senior Seminar: Library Research 2 hours

Prerequisites: CHM 312; Senior standing in CHM major; completion of general education and writing requirements; Term: Fall, Winter; Cross-listed with BIO/CHM/ENV/FSC/HSC/ISC 496A.

This course is designed for senior science majors to have the opportunity to write and orally present a research proposal. This will include conducting a literature review and designing an original research project. Students carry out their research project in BIO/CHM/ENV/FSC/HSC/ISC 496B. Use of computer for informational searches, data analysis, and word processing; oral presentations and final research paper required.

CHM 496B Senior Seminar: Laboratory Research 2 hours
Prerequisites: CHM 496A; Senior standing in CHM major; completion of general education and writing requirements; Term: Fall, Winter; Fee: yes; Cross-listed with BIO/CHM/ENV/FSC/HSC/ISC 496B.

This course is designed for senior science majors to conduct research with the direction of a faculty member. The student will carry out a research project of their own design. Specifically students will conduct experiments, write up the results of those experiments, write up the conclusions based on those results and present the results and conclusions of the project both in written and oral formats.

Awards

The Chemical Rubber Company General Chemistry Award is given to the most outstanding student in the first-year chemistry sequence.

The American Chemical Society Award is given to the top graduating chemistry major who has maintained an outstanding grade point average throughout chemistry course work and an excellent grade point overall average.

Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry Major (B.A.)

Industry/Research Tract
This tract is for students who want to work in the lab or pursue advanced degrees in chemistry.

The requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree with chemistry major are a minimum of 36 credit hours in chemistry and completion of the following components:

A. General Education Requirements

B. Required Core Courses
CHM 140     General Chemistry 1: Atoms and molecules
CHM 241     General Chemistry 2: Equilibrium
CHM 312     Junior Seminar: Writing in Science
CHM 325     Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Nomenclature
CHM 326     Organic Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms
CHM 341     Physical Chemistry
CHM 360     Biochemistry
CHM 401     Inorganic Chemistry
CHM 496 A and B Senior Seminar

In addition, you must select a minimum of three credit hours from any of the following:
CHM 350     Environmental Chemistry
CHM 390     Laboratory Analysis
CHM 410     Special Topics

In addition, all majors must complete a research experience approved by the department. This may include a summer undergraduate research experience either with a Marygrove College faculty member (CHM 491) or an off-campus internship or fellowship (CHM 388 or CHM 491).

C. Related Discipline Requirements
BIO 150      Biology I: From Molecules to Cells
MTH 251     Calculus I
PHY 252     College Physics I
PHY 253     College Physics II

 

Chemistry Minor

The chemistry minor requires completion of a minimum of 20 credits of the following components:

A. Required Courses
CHM 140     General Chemistry 1: Atoms and molecules
CHM 241     General Chemistry 2: Equilibrium
CHM 325     Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Nomenclature
CHM 326     Organic Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms

In addition, you must select at least one course from any of the following upper-level chemistry courses:
CHM 341,CHM 350, CHM 360, CHM 390, CHM 401, CHM 481

 

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